Annexation of the interchromosomal space during viral infection

The nucleus is known to be compartmentalized into units of function(1), but the processes leading to the spatial organization of chromosomes and nucle ar compartments are not yet well defined. Here we report direct quantitativ e analysis of the global structural perturbations of interphase chromosome and interchromosome domain distribution caused by infection with herpes sim plex virus-1 (HSV-1). Our results show that the peripheral displacement of host chromosomes that correlates with expansion of the viral replication co mpartment (VRC)(2-5) is coupled to a twofold increase in nuclear volume. Li ve cell dynamic measurements suggest that viral compartment formation is dr iven by the functional activity of viral components and underscore the sign ificance of spatial regulation of nuclear activities.